Renal Diet Services

If you have kidney disease, you may need to change your diet. Simple tweaks — like eating more fresh fruit and vegetables and less processed foods — can make a difference.

A renal diet — also called a kidney diet — may help slow kidney damage and improve your overall health. UPMC nephrologists and registered dietitians will work together to develop a renal diet plan that will help preserve your kidney function and quality of life.

What Are Renal Diet Services?

 A renal diet is often low in sodium, phosphorus, and sometimes potassium and protein. Anyone with kidney disease should consider a renal diet. Your doctor may want you to meet with a registered dietician to discuss renal diet considerations and learn recipes.

If you have advanced kidney disease or other health conditions, your doctor or dietitian may have different guidelines for your renal diet. For instance, people with early kidney disease may need to decrease their protein intake, whereas those on dialysis may need to increase their protein intake. They may also need more potassium.

What Conditions Do We Treat? 

People with all types of kidney disease may benefit from a renal diet. Common conditions we treat with a renal diet include:

• Acute kidney injury.
• Chronic kidney disease (stage 5).
• End-stage kidney disease.

Who’s Eligible for Renal Diet Services?

If you’ve been diagnosed with any type of kidney disease, your doctor may recommend a renal diet.

What Renal Diet Services Do We Offer? 

Your nephrologist may refer you to a registered dietitian who can help you develop a renal diet plan that is right for you. They can also provide recipes and education on grocery shopping, cooking techniques, and more.

Your doctor or registered dietitian may recommend that you:

• Avoid fast food and packaged foods. They're high in sodium.
• Choose fresh foods and cook from scratch as much as you can.
• Keep protein serving sizes small. A serving size of protein is two to three ounces of chicken, fish, or meat.
• Limit alcohol to one drink a day for women and two for men.
• Rinse canned beans and vegetables before cooking to help remove excess salt.
• Track water intake to prevent fluid buildup in your body.
• Use spices and fresh or dried herbs instead of salt to flavor food.

What Can I Expect? 

When you meet with your nephrologist or registered dietitian, they will talk with you about your condition, your dietary preferences, and your lifestyle.

Your provider will make renal diet recommendations that may include:

• Eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Limiting sodium and protein.
• Managing potassium and phosphorus levels.
• Tracking water intake.

Why Choose UPMC for Renal Diet Services?

 When you choose UPMC for renal diet services, you will receive:

• Access to world-class nephrology expertise — Our  world-renowned experts treat the full spectrum of kidney diseases and related symptoms using the latest diagnostic and treatment techniques.
• A full range of treatment options — We'll work with you to develop a treatment plan that slows the progression of your disease as much as possible and improves your quality of life. This may include a nutritional consult and dietary advice.
• Multidisciplinary care — If you need advanced kidney treatment, we partner with special dialysis clinics, experts in supportive care, and kidney transplant surgeons.

By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2025-04-24 by Pooja Amarapurkar, MD.